Panama Strengthen Cooperation on Agri-food Matters
SPAIN - The directors-general of the Agricultural and Cattle Research Institute of Panama (IDIAP), Dr Paulo Ducasa, and the Institute for Research and Technology in Food and Agriculture (IRTA), Dr Josep M. Monfort, have signed a bilateral agri-food collaboration agreement.
3 January 2014
1 minute read
This will strengthen the already existent alliance between the two institutes and install bilateral actions in various agri-food areas, including:
Meat molecular traceability
The aim is to supply Panama with its own and innovative technological capacity, by setting up a molecular traceability laboratory based on DNA microsatellites and other related technologies.
This will allow identifying and certifying the identity of the cattle produced in Panama according to international standards and will thus increase the competitiveness in cattle production.
Irrigation
IRTA will provide advice on this field for the IDIAP to have its own Irrigation and Drainage Unit capable of satisfying the demands of the Panamanian agricultural sector through an efficient water use, advanced technologies for agricultural irrigation, etc.
Post-harvest
Both institutes will work to strengthen the fruit and vegetable post-harvest sector of Panama, in the areas of cold chain, the third, fourth, and fifth range, and the post-harvest pathologies, among others.
Biofuels
IRTA will provide technological services to develop a biofuel pilot plant (biodiesel and bioethanol) in Panama as an alternative to agricultural production.
Training
Both entities will jointly prepare and develop a pHD programme for Panamanian students. The doctorate will be done in Catalonia with the aid of the universities that collaborate with IRTA.
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